California Biographies
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176
ISHMAEL MONROE. Prominent among the longest-established and most intelligent and
prosperous agriculturists of San Joaquin county is Ishmael Monroe, an extensive land owner,
living on the river road, about nine and one-half miles from Oakdale. During the half cen-
tury that he has resided in this vicinity he has won for himself an enviable reputation as an
honest man and a valuable citizen, and as one who has contributed his full quota toward the
advancement and development of one of the finest counties in the state of California. A son
of David Monroe, he was born May 29, 1836, in Huron county, Ohio, near Norwalk. His pater-
nal grandfather, Joel Monroe, was born near Boston, Mass., and when a young man settled
as a mechanic in New Hampshire. He subsequently removed to Cayuga county, N. Y., and
from there to Ohio, where he lived a few years, although he died in Massachusetts.
Born and reared in Cheshire county. N. H., David Monroe moved with his parents to Cayuga
county, N. Y., and subsequently located in Huron county, Ohio. Having in the meantime learned
the carpenter's trade, he settled as a carpenter and contractor in Elkhart county, Ind., removing
from there in 1848 to Illinois. In that state he followed farming until 1853, when, with his wife
and three children, he started for the Pacific coast. On April 13 he crossed the Mississippi
river at Albany. Ill., and on May 20, at Kanesville, he crossed the Missouri and began his
tedious journey across the plains. Keeping on the north side of the Platte river, he came by
way of Devil's Gate, north of Salt Lake, following the Walker trail to Tuolumne county, Cal.,
arriving in Sonora October 4, 1853, having been almost six months en route. The following six
years he kept hotel in Sonora, being quite popular as a landlord. In 1800, joining his son Ish-
mael, the subject of this sketch, he located in San Joaquin county, buying six hundred acres
of land on the Stanislaus river, and began the improvement of the present homestead farm. In
1862 he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of adjoining land, and soon afterward
erected a substantial residence. Here he was successfully engaged in farming until 1877,
when he sold his share to his sons, Ishmael and Euphrates, and removed to Modesto, where, as
a carpenter, he built seven different residences. He continued a resident of that place until his
death, in 1883. at the age of seventy-two years. He was a man of great integrity and worth,
and a member of the Christian Church. He married Maria Butler, who was born in Delaware
county, Ohio, a daughter of David Butler. Her father, a native of Massachusetts, served in the
war of 1812, and afterwards settled as a farmer in Ohio, living first in Delaware county and
later in Huron county. His wife, a Miss Barr, was the daughter of a Revolutionary soldier,
who served throughout the war, taking part in many engagements. He was not wounded while
in the service, but had several narrow escapes. At the battle of Bunker Hill his cartridge box
was shot off, and in another battle a bullet pierced his hat. Of the union of David and
Maria (Butler) Monroe three children were born, namely : Ishmael, the subject of this sketch,
with whom the mother spent her closing years, dying at the age of seventy-one years ; Euphra-
tes, living in Contra Costa county; and Abigail, who was drowned in the Stockton Slough, in
1860, at the age of twenty years.
Obtaining his early education in the district schools of Indiana and Illinois, Ishmael Monroe
remained at home throughout the days of his boyhood and youth. Starting with the family
for California in 1853, he drove a team across the plains, and took his turn regularly in standing-
guard, once in a while, when necessity demanded it, taking a double turn. In Sonora he assisted
in the management of the hotel until 1859, when he made a visit to his old home in Illinois, trav-
eling a part of the way by stage. During the journey, while he was in Texas, Mr. Monroe
wrote to his father to stay in California, as he should soon be back. After spending a short
time with his former companions and friends Mr. Monroe was married in Chicago, and with
his fair young bride came by way of the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific coast, being thirty-
eight days on the journey from New York to San Francisco. The ship in which they traveled,
the Aerial, was wrecked on a barren island on a fair day. It was commanded by Captain Jones,
who later bonded it to Captain Semmes of the Confederate navy. Looking about for a favora-
ble place in which to locate permanently, Mr. Monroe and his father selected this land, and
as previously mentioned they carried on general farming and stock raising together for a number
of years, improving a good ranch. Dividing the property between his two sons, Ishmael Monroe
came into possession of one-half of the old home farm, which contains four hundred and seventy-
six acres of bottom land, and he also has five hundred acres of upland. He has since contin-
ued in business as a general farmer, raising hay, grain, stock and alfalfa, and meeting with undis-
puted success in his operations. He has a commodious and conveniently arranged residence,
fine barns and outbuildings, and a well-equipped blacksmith's shop, in which he does much of the
repairing necessary where machinery is used. Mr. Monroe also owns other property of value,
having a grain farm of four hundred and sixty acres near Sanger, Fresno county, which he
rents, and an eighty-acre ranch, which he rents, in Tulare county. Prior to the opening of the
Santa Fe railroad he was for thirty-two years postmaster at Burwood, the office being in his
house.
In Chicago, Ill., in 1859, Mr. Monroe married Anna E. Slaymaker, a native of Lancaster coun-
ty, Pa., and a daughter of George Slaymaker, an early settler of Illinois. Four children have
blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Monroe, namely: George David, who died at the age of
twenty-two years; Charles Thomas, who died when nine years old; Mrs. Abbie B. Keeley of
Stanislaus county ; and Henry E., a prominent attorney of San Francisco. Henry E. Monroe
is a young man of noteworthy attainments and of great legal ability. At his graduation from
the Stockton high school he stood at the head of his class. In 1888 he was graduated from
the University of California, and the following two years was a student at the Columbia Law
College. The required six months of law office work was completed in the office of Secretary
Elihu Root, in New York City, and he was admitted to the New York bar in the supreme
court, standing third in a class of ninety. Returning to California, his admission to the bar
was recognized and he has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession in San
Francisco, being head of the firm of Monroe & Cornwall. Mr. Monroe has ever evinced a genu-
ine interest in local progress and improvements, and as school trustee has been influential in ad-
vancing the educational status of the district. In national politics he is a straightforward, un-
compromising Republican. His estimable wife is a faithful member of the Methodist Church.